Getting veterinary work experience

Starting your work experience

Start early

Start as early as possible, using weekends or the school holidays to gain experience. It’s OK to start small - even helping at a local petting zoo or volunteering at an animal charity shows dedication and helps you build confidence.

Be realistic about starting points

You might not get into your dream placement straight away. Starting with basic animal care roles is a great way to prove your reliability and enthusiasm, leading to more advanced opportunities in time.

Research local opportunities

• Check local animal charity websites for volunteer programmes
• Ask your school's careers service for contacts
• Speak to family or friends who work with animals

Applying for work experience

Writing effective emails

Applying for work experience requires both persistence and politeness. Many practices are happy to help aspiring vets, but they're also very busy. A well-written email, clearly explaining your career goals and showing genuine enthusiasm, will often open doors.

Your email should include:

• A clear subject line e.g. ‘Work experience request – aspiring veterinary student’
• A brief introduction about yourself and your career aspirations
• Specific dates when you're available
• What you hope to learn from the experience
• Your enthusiasm for the profession
• A professional sign-off with your contact details

Following up

If you haven’t heard back within a week or two, it's fine to send a polite follow-up email. Sometimes emails get lost, or practices are simply too busy to respond immediately.

Being flexible

• Offer multiple date options
• Be willing to start with short placements - even a day can be valuable
• Consider less popular times e.g. early mornings or weekends
• Be prepared to travel further afield

Making the most of your experience

Actively participate

Showing up isn’t enough. Really engage with your placement by:

• Asking questions - show genuine interest in what you're observing
• Observing carefully - pay attention to both technical procedures and client interactions
• Volunteering for appropriate tasks - offer to help with cleaning, feeding or basic care
• Being professional - dress appropriately, arrive on time and follow instructions

Keep detailed records

Maintain a detailed diary of your work experiences – you'll need this for your personal statement and interviews. Include:

• Date and duration of each placement
• Types of animals you worked with
• Procedures you observed or assisted with
• What you learned from each experience
• Reflections on challenges and rewards you witnessed
• Questions that you’d like to explore further

Reflect on your experiences

Think critically about what you've seen during your placement:

• What aspects of the work did you find most interesting?
• What challenges did you observe, and how did professionals handle them?
• How did the reality compare to your expectations?
• What questions do you still have about the profession?

Build relationships

Professional contacts made during work experience can be invaluable, so make sure you:

• Stay in touch with mentors who helped you
• Ask if you can return for additional experience
• Request references for your university applications
• Consider these contacts as potential sources of career advice

Your next steps

• Start planning your work experience strategy – identify local opportunities and create a timeline
• Prepare your application materials – draft professional emails and create a CV
• Begin reaching out – contact practices and organisations  
• Document everything – keep detailed records of your experiences
• Reflect and learn – use each experience to deepen your understanding of the profession

Getting good work experience takes time and effort, but it's one of the most important things you can do to prepare for a career in veterinary medicine. The insights you’ll gain will not only strengthen your applications but will also help you to be sure that veterinary medicine is the right path for you.